PECAN PRODUCTION

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PECAN PRODUCTION

• Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
• Curriculum Office
• June 2002

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PECAN PRODUCTION

• 48,950,000.00 value for Georgia in 1998
• 40,000,000 pounds produced in 1998
• Average price of 1.22 per pound in 1998

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• The pecan is considered as the most valuable of
  the North American nut species.
• The word pecan, means a nut too hard to crack
  by hand.

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• The original native stand of pecans grew from the
  western part of Texas in a northeasterly
  direction to the banks of the Mississippi River.
• Majority of Pecan research is from the South
  Texas Area.

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• Most of Georgia is blessed with a marvelous
  climate for producing pecans.
• Pecans can be planted in the Coastal Plains and
  Piedmont Areas of Georgia but are not recommended
  for the North Georgia mountains.

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• Georgia has been the Number One producer of
  improved varieties of pecans in the United States
  for many years.
• There are also thousands of pecan trees
  surrounding urban and rural dwellings in Georgia.
  

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• These trees can enhance the environment by
  providing shade and additional income from the
  sale of nuts.
• Some of these trees are not profitable because of
  their susceptibility to disease, particularly
  scab.

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Considerations for Successful Production

• Varieties-
• Yard Tree Varieties
• Stuart
• Gloria Grande
• Curtis
• Elliot
• Sumner

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Quality of Pecan Varieties
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Other Varieties

• Cape Fear
• Kernodle
• Oconee
• Forkert
• Schley

• Desirable
• Mahan
• Colby
• James

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Commercial cultivars

• STANDARDS OF THE PECAN INDUSTRY
• Desirable
• Schley
• Stuart
• Western Schley

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Site

• Plant trees well away from residence or other
  buildings.
• Space the tree at least 60 to 80 feet apart so
  they will not crowd as they reach maturity
• Plant yard varieties so that they will never have
  to be moved.

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Factors to Consider on Site

• Good drainage
• Adequate depth of soil
• Good water holding capacity of soil
• Suitable fertility

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Soils

• Preferred soil is a fine, sandy loam to a depth
  of about twenty-four inches and below this is a
  sandy clay subsoil which secures the extensive
  taproot.

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• Trees should be planted far away from structures
  so that limbs will not encroach upon the
  structure.
• They should always be planted an adequate
  distance from overhead power lines.

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Planting techniques

• Factors governing the number of trees per acre
• Quality of the land
• Amount of plant food
• Amount of moisture
• Growers objective

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• The best time to plant pecan trees is during
  the following months
• December
• January
• February

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Planting Trees

• In order to get best survival, plant freshly dug
  trees whose roots have been kept moist from
  digging to planting.
• 1. Purchase good trees -- Use sturdy,
  vigorous trees from a reliable nursery.
• 2. Keep roots moist at all times
• Pecans by nature have long taproots and require a
  deep planting hole.

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• 1. Is not uncommon for a hole to be dug at
  
  
  least
  three feet deep.
• 2. Hole should be from 12 to 24 inches
  wide so that all side roots can be properly
  positioned in the hole. Prune roots to the edge
  of the hole. Do not wrap roots around the hole.

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• 3. Most soils need additional organic
  matter. Mix peat moss or well-composted organic
  matter with the available topsoil to fill the
  hole.
• 4. Plant the tree at the same depth it grew
  at the nursery.
• 5. Do not put fertilizer in the hole.

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• 6. Build a water-holding basin around the
  base of the tree.
• 7. Remove one-half of the top of the new
  tree to balance the top of the root system.
• 8. Mulch trees with six inch layer of pine
  straw, leaves, or old sawdust.

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Care for the Young Tree

• Watering---Primary after-care chore for
  successfully growing pecan trees.
• Apply 10 to 15 gallons of water per week either
  by rainfall or irrigation.
• Should not be neglected.

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Fertility

• Should take a soil sample to determine tree
  needs.
• In the event of no soil test, fertilize with one
  pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer distributed in a 25
  sq. ft. area around the tree. Make this
  application immediately after planting and again
  in June or July.

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• Young trees should make from two to four feet of
  terminal growth per year. When less, apply one
  pound of ammonium nitrate per inch of trunk
  diameter in June or July.
• 1. Fertilizer materials at high rates can
  damage the tree root when placed too close to the
  trunk.
• General recommendation, apply one pound zinc
  sulfate per tree for the first three years
  following planting.

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Care of Bearing Trees

• Fertilizing
• In the absence of soil test or leaf
  analysis,
• broadcast 4 pounds of a complete
• fertilizer such as 10-10-10 for each inch
• of trunk growth measured at 4.5 ft. above
• soil level.
• Zinc nutrition is especially important in
• pecan production.

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• 1. Soil pH should be 6.0 to 6.5 to
  assure the availability of essential
  nutrients.
• Harvesting Pecans
• 1. Harvest early and store nuts in a
  clean, dry place to insure the best possible
  quality.

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Insect Control

• Best control measure is spraying the trees.
• Major Pecan Insects
• 1. Aphids Mites
• 2. Hickory Shuckworm
• 3. Twig Girdlers
• 4. Fall Webworm
• 5. Pecan Weevil

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Diseases

• Major disease is Scab. Best control is to plant
  Scab resistant trees.
• Rosette--caused by Zinc Deficiency.
• Chlorosis--Zinc Deficiency, Iron Deficiency,
  Nitrogen Deficiency, Water-logged soils, etc...

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• Heart Rot and Wood Rot--thought to be caused by
  open wounds to tree.
• Powdery Mildew--Fungal Disease of minor
  importance.
• Sooty Mold-- Grows on Honeydew secreted by
  insects.

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Birds and Squirrels

• Squirrels are often a serious pest.
• 1. Barriers
• 2. Trapping
• 3. Shooting

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The End